Adjustable partition



July 10, KQENIG ET AL ADJUSTABLE PARTI TI ON Filed Feb. 8, 1932 gnwm! 15 14 14a lNVENTORS 41 ATTORNEYS Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STA TIES PATENT OFFICE ward Nicholas Winslow, assignors to The Mills Shaker Heights, Ohio, Company, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 8,

1932, Serial No. 591,670

15 Claims. 01. 189-34) This invention relates to adjustable partitions and more particularly to certain parts and units thereof which are variously adjustable to accommodate the partition to the irregularities in the floor on which it is erected.

The floor upon which partitions are erected is very often rough-uneven and not precisely level. Partition units carried in stock are made geometrically precise and accurate, andunless specially made, will not take into account unevenness in the floor. This unevenness must, nevertheless, be taken care of if anattractive appearing, well insulated and accurately fitted erected partition is to result.

An object of our invention is to provide a partition adapted to be made up in stock lengths and widths and which has the fioor contacting portions adjustable to accommodate the partition to floors with uneven surfaces.

Another object of our invention is to provide a partition having the post uprights, base members and plinth blocks all quickly and easily adjustable to conform to floor unevenness without eflfecting the sturdiness, strength or general adjustability of the partition as a whole.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an adjustable plinth block which may be secured to a standard partition 'unit and which may be vertically adjusted at any time after application to the partition to permit'th'e insertion of carpets, and other floor coverings thereunder and which can be adjusted so as to fit tightly against the uneven floor surface.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel and eiiective means for adjustably securing the plinth block in assembled position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a plinth block which is economical to manufacture, easy to install and which can be made into any number of attractive designs to harmonize with the partition wall exterior.

Further objects of this invention will become evident as the disclosure proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a vertical face view of the lower portion of the adjustable partition structure;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the lower portion of the partition structure with the plinth block removed, showing more particularly the means for securing the plinth block and post uprights in assem- I 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the plinth block taken on the lin'ei6- 6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. '7 is a top view of a "modified construction.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures 'of the drawing.

We have shown in the drawing the lower portion of two sectional partition units, each unit being defined by channel shaped uprights 10 and 11 respectively, which when joined together form an assembled post for the partition. Upright '10 of one sectional unit is secured as by welding to'a channel shaped base board 12, and upright 11 plinth block' of slightly forming a part of the other'section unit is secured to base board 13. The baseboards 12 and 13 are channel shaped, with the flanges thereof extending downwardly, and the web portion of each base-board is grooved to receive the panel members 120. and 13a respectively. v

Means are provided for securing the partition sections of the floor and for vertically adjusting the sections along the uneven floor so as to maintain the units in horizontal alignment. For this purpose we use a block member 14 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the floor. The block may be of the general shape shown in Fig. 5

and may be provided with flanges 15 as shown in Fig. 4 to raise the same slightly off the floor. An upwardly projecting screw bolt 16 is secured to each end of the block. A wheel nut 17 is threaded for vertical adjustment on each of the screw bolts 16. The outer edge of the wheel nut may be corrugated as clearly shown in Fig. 5 so as to facilitate the manipulation thereof. A bridge member 18 which extends between and is welded to the side flanges of each baseboard 12 and 13 seats upon the wheel nut 17. By the proper manipulation of each wheel nut 18 each rigid partition section may be lifted or lowered with respect to the uneven floor so that perfect horizontal alignment of each partition section can be obtained. After the proper vertical adjustment of each section has been made, the section can be ill) loo

maintained in this fixed position by adjusting a locking nut 19 threaded upon each of the upright threaded bolts 16.

The sectional uprights 10 and 11 are held in uniform spaced relation by a truss attachment which extends between the uprights and locks them together in fixed spaced relationship. This attachment comprises generally a spacer member 20 havingoutwardly extending projections 21 on each corner thereof. The projections 21 are so shaped as to seat behind and engage the inwardly projecting flanges 22 provided on each of the section uprights 10 and 11, respectively.

Male clip members 23 are provided which seat against the uprights 10 and 11 and operate to prevent inward collapse of the uprights. Each clip is provided with rebent flange portions 24 which are so shaped as to seat against the corners of the uprights l0 and 11 to firmly lock the same against the projecting portion 21 of the spacer member 14. A screw bolt 25 provided with a nut 26 extends through the clips 24 which are provided on each side of the uprights. When the nut is drawn. tight either by manipulation of the nut or the bolt, the clips are drawn to the spacer so that the whole forms a truss with the uprights 10 and, 11 clamped together to form a sturdy post. The spacer member 20 may be provided with laterally extending flanges 27 through which the bolt 25 extends. Our truss attachment is positioned at spaced intervals between the uprights, and one of these is placed sufliciently near the 1 floor to provide a securing means for the plinth block, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. A pilaster cap 28 on each side of the post snaps into resilient engagement with the re-bent flanges 24 of the clip members 23 thus completely covering the opening between the uprights.

,A base member or mop strip telescopes over the flanges of each base board 12 and 13 and is vertically adjustable thereon. The mop strip may be of a general channel form having a web portion which has ribs 29 along the side edges thereof, which rest tightlyagainst the floor. The mop strip is held to the floor by the block 14, the wings 14a of which extend into and seat on the raised intermediate portion 29a of the web of the mop strip. The outer portions 31 of the side flanges 30 are beveled inwardly topress tightly against the downwardly extending flanges of the base board. The upper edge of the beveled portions of the mop strip is provided with a double backed portion 32 as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which presents a finished edge 33 along the top of the mop strip. The side wall flanges 30 are so bent as to tightly clamp the flanges of the base board and yet permit full vertical adjustment of the sectional units to maintain the same in horizontal alignment regardless of irregularities in the floor.

A plinth block is provided which is adapted to be adjustably secured to the clip 23 which also serves to connect the unit uprights 10 and 11 together as heretofore described. Our plinth block generally comprises afront wall portion 34, side wall portion 35'and a top wall portion 36. The plinthblock is designed to overlap the lower edge of the pilaster cap 28 and the ends of the base board 12 and 13 and the mop strip 30. The free edge 37 of the side walls of'the plinth block are cut to closely conform to the contour of the base board and mop strip. Likewise the free edge 38 of the top wall portion 36 of the plinth block is cut to closely conform to the contour of the pilaster cap 28. When the plinth block is secured in position the partition presents a smooth and finished appearance.

To secure the plinth block in assembled position we have provided a resilient clamping member 39 which is clearly shown in Fig. 6 which is concealed within and welded to the side walls 35 of the plinth block. The female clip or clamping member 39 is provided with inwardly extending flanges 40 which are adapted to spring back and resiliently engage the re-bent flanges 24 of the male clip member 23. fter the plinth block is thus resiliently clamped in position, it may be lifted or lowered to accommodate the unevenness of the floor and permit the insertion of carpets thereunder. Should it be desired to remove the plinth block for any reason, a simple tool can be used to spring the side walls 35 of the plinth block outwardly a slight amount to permit the inturned flanges 40 of the clip member 39 to be pulled out of engagement with the re-bent flanges 23 of the clip member.

We have shown in Figure '7 a plinth block 41 of slightly modified construction, the principal point of difference over the plinth block heretofore described being that the inturned flanges '100 42 thereof which grip the clip member 23, are formed integral with the block.

It is now seen that we have provided means for truing rigid partition units into perfecthorizontal alignment and in connection therewith 5 have provided adjustable floor trim in the nature of a mop strip and plinth block which can be easily manipulated vertically to obtain a tight fit against the floor and accommodate floor unevenness and irregularities. Partition unit connecting means are provided which serve the double purpose of rigidly connecting the sectional units and also providing means for securing thereto a finished pilaster cap and plinth block without the use of separate securing means therefor. Our partition assembly is furthermore economical to manufacture and can easily and quickly be erected by unskilled workmen.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A plinth block for building structures, said block having a clip member secured thereto, said clip member being adapted to adjustably engage a vertical post.

2. A partition of the character described including a post member, a plinth block formed to fit the contour of said post member, male and female clip members attached to said plinth block and post members adapted to cooperatively engage with one another to adjustably retain the plinth block in position.

3. In a partition structure, the combination of a post member, means for vertically adjusting said post member, a plinth block and male and female clip members attached to said plinth block and post member and adapted to cooperatively engage with one another to adjustably retain the plinth block in position.

4. In a partition structure, the combination of a post member, means for vertically adjusting said post member, a vertically adjustable base member, a plinth block, and male and female clip members attached to said plinth block and post member and adapted to cooperatively engage with one another to retain the plinth block in position and permit vertical adjustment thereof to conform with the adjusted position of the post and base member.

5. In a partition structure, the combination of a partition post, a post cap, a base member, a plinth block having a top wall portion and a side wall portion having the edges thereof formed to respectively fit the contour of the post cap and base member, and means secured to said post for retaining said plinth block closely seated against said post cap and base member.

6. In a partition structure, the combination of a partition post, a post cap, a base member extending from either side thereof, a plinth block having a top wall portion formed to fit the contour of said post cap, and side wall portions formed to fit the contour of the base member, and means secured to said post for adjustably retaining said plinth block closely seated against said post cap and base member.

7. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means including a clip member for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, and a plinth block secured to said clip member.

8. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means including a clip member for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, and a plinth block adjustably secured to said clip member.

9. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means including a clip member for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, and a plinth block having means adapted to adjustably engage said clip member to permit vertical adjustment of the plinth block with respect to said uprights.

10. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means including a clip member for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, a plinth block, and resilient means on said plinth block adapted to adjustably and resiliently engage said clip member to permit vertical adjustment of the plinth block with respect to said uprights.

11. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means including a clip member for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, means for vertically adjusting said uprights, a plinth block having inturned flanges adapted to adjustably engage said clip member to permit vertical adjustment of the plinth block with respect to said uprights.

12. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, said means including a spacer portion preventing outward separation of said uprights and a clip portion preventing inward collapse of said uprights, and a plinth block adjustably secured to said clip portion.

13. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical uprights, means for retaining said uprights in fixed spaced relationship, said means including a spacer portion preventing outward separation of said uprights and a clip portion positioned on each side of said uprights preventing inward collapse of said uprights, and a plinth block adjustably secured to each of said clip portions.

14. In a partition structure the combination of a post, means for adjustably supporting said post, said means including an adjusting screw and a nut portion threaded on said screw forming a seat for said post, and a plinth block covering said supporting means and adjustably secured to said post.

15. In a partition structure, a pair of vertical spaced uprights, means for adjustably supporting said uprights, said means including a pair of vertical adjusting screws and a nut portion threaded on each of said screws forming a seat for said uprights, and a plinth block covering said supporting means and adjustably and removably secured to said uprights.

ELMER EDWARD KOENIG. EDWARD NICHOLAS WINSLOW. 

